This alkaloid has been found in both Veratrum album and V. viride Ait. It
crystallizes from EtOH in hexagonal tablets and has [α]20D - 139° (CHC13). The
hydrochloride dihydrate has m.p. 254-6°C (dry, dec.); the sulphate is also
crystalline but the aurichloride is amorphous. Poethke has shown that the alkaloid is a secondary base, gives a nitro so derivative, m.p. 261°C, and contains five
replaceable hydrogen atoms. On boiling with dilute HCl it is hydrolyzed to (+)-
glucose and isojervine, an isomer of jervine. This latter base crystallizes with
solvent, e.g. the CHC13 adduct softens at 135-1500 C; the crystallizate with
EtOH has m.p. 114-6°C (dec.) and that with Me2CO has m.p. 110-4°C; [α]20D -
32° (EtOH).
Wright, Luff., J. Chem. Soc., 35,405,421 (1879)
Salzberger., Arch. Pharm., 228,462 (1890)
Poethke., ibid, 275,357,571 (1937)
Poethke., ibid, 276, 170 (1938)
Jacobs, Craig.,J. Biol. Chem., 155,564 (1944)
